Cupping involves creating suction on the skin to increase blood flow and ease pain and inflammation.
frequently asked questions
WHO MAY WE THANK FOR CUPPING PRACTICES?
Cupping is an ancient Daoist alchemical practice believed to have originated in East Asia thousands of years ago and is said to pre-date acupuncture. The earliest records of cupping practices in China were found within the Bo Shu Silk Texts— ancient medicals texts written on silk found in the Mawangdui tomb which was sealed in 168 B.C.E. In early times, cupping was originally performed with animal horns. Horn implements used for cupping have been discovered in Northern China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.
One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how ancient Egyptians systematically used bleeding cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.E. Through Egypt, bleeding through cupping was introduced to ancient Greece, where it was revered by Hippocrates.
Ancient healers in the Indian sub-continent and the Arabian Desert also used cupping methods. The Prophet Mohammed advocated hijama (bleeding cupping) for treating swellings and tumors of the liver, spleen, and lungs, and recommended its use for pleurisy, cardiovascular health, and blood-related diseases of the veins in the upper legs between the hips and the knees.
Zhouhou Jiuzufang beijifang (Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies), Ge Hong, Chinese Edition
In Chinese medicine, cupping was widely used in the courts of Imperial China. This practice was documented in 281 by Ge Hong, a Daoist alchemist and medical herbalist, in an ancient medical text titled Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies. During the Tang Dynasty (618—907), cupping was used in conjunction with acupuncture and moxibustion as the principal treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis and other chronic pulmonary diseases.
During the Qing Dynasty (1644—1912), doctors began to work with cups made from bamboo, ceramics and glass, and formally incorporated the wet method of cupping, also known as bleeding cupping. Cups were usually boiled and the heated cups were placed on affected areas or over embedded acupuncture needles. During this era cupping was used for the treatment of common colds, back pain, knotted nerves, muscle pain, and joint pain.
What IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WET AND DRY cupping?
Wet cupping, also called bleeding cupping, releases a small amount of stagnant blood from the body via a light scratch or puncture done with a sterile lancet. In modern practice, this procedure is commonly used on spider veins and varicose veins to relieve pressure and restore circulation. Dry cupping allows for the stagnant blood to come to the surface of the skin, but the skin is not punctured. Although dry cupping does not expel stagnant blood from the body, it does activate the lymphatic system, initiate detoxification processes, and help to release muscular knots and adhesions to relieve pain.
How do THE CUPS CREATE SUCTION?
During a fire cupping treatment, an alcohol-soaked cotton ball is lit on fire and quickly inserted inside a glass cup to warm the air inside and burn up the oxygen to create vacuum pressure when it comes in contact with your body. The cup is placed with the open side directly on your skin, which cools the air inside the cup and creates a suction and sticks on the body.
Although fire is involved, the rim of the cup itself does not become hot and actually feels cool to the touch on your skin. Modern versions of cupping without fire include silicone cups that suction to the skin via squeezing and plastic cups with valves used to pump air out.
What does cupping treat?
In modern times, cupping is used to treat a wide variety of conditions. It is particularly effective at easing conditions that create muscle aches and joint pains. Since cups can also be applied to major acupressure points, the practice is effective at treating respiratory issues, digestive issues, skin issues, and other conditions commonly treated with acupressure.
What does the research show?
A 2012 review of 135 studies found that cupping therapy may help with the following conditions, among others:
According to the British Cupping Society, cupping therapy is used to treat:
Blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia
Rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia
Fertility and gynecological disorders
Skin problems such as eczema and acne
Anxiety and depression
Bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma
how does cupping work?
Cupping opens the channels, moves Qi and Blood, and reduces stagnation, which in turn relieves pain and promotes healing. The suction and negative pressure created through cupping pulls the skin, fascia, connective tissue, and muscle upward into the cup. This creates more spaciousness within tense and tight areas, allowing for more Qi and blood circulation to the area. Increased Qi and blood flow flushes the area to remove cellular debris, lymph fluid, dead or stagnant blood cells, and toxins. This improves overall blood circulation to the area and promote cellular repair and generate healthy tissue. It may also help form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue.
what do the chinese classics say about pain?
In the Huang Di Nei Jing, the ancient Chinese medical text that has been treated as the fundamental doctrinal source for Chinese medicine for more than two millennia, it says— 不通這痛,痛則不通 bù tōng zhè tòng; tòng zé bù tōng. In this context, it is usually translated as “where there is stagnation, there is pain; where there is pain, there is stagnation”. The word stagnation comes from 不 bù, which means “no”, and 通 tōng, which means “a state of being open and connected”. Thus, a state of not being open and connected is to be in a state of stagnation, obstruction, or blockage, which coexists with pain.
“ 不通這痛,痛則不通
BU TONG ZE TONG, TONG ZE BU TONG,
”
Interestingly, 通 tōng can also be translated as one’s ability to move through something, to open up, to reconnect, to completely understand, to connect with the ancestors, to connect the microcosm of the body to the macrocosm of the universe, to use divination (I Ching) to break through to the other side (the spirit world).
When there is 不通 bù tōng— “no connection”— existence is painful.
This saying speaks to the larger Chinese medical physiological concept of free flow of Qi in the channels, which is necessary on a physical level to support vitality, nourish the organs, maintain health, and prevent disease, and is equally important on a psycho-spiritual level that enables us to thrive and uncover deep potentials in life. When the flow of Qi and Blood is obstructed or blocked, stagnation occurs and causes pain in the mind, body and spirit. When the flow of Qi and Blood is 通 tōng— “unobstructed” and “connected”— anything is possible.
How to prepare for a cupping session
Eat and drink! Be sure to hydrate and nourish yourself on the day of your treatment. Drinking water beforehand is recommended because a hydration helps to soften muscle, making it easier to move and manipulate, while dehydration makes muscles rigid and hard. Water is vital for every function that occurs in the body and necessary to maintain healthy, hydrated muscle tissue and robust blood and lymph circulation to clear toxins and debris from the system. Be sure to eat at least a few hours before your treatment.
What should I expect during treatment?
Cupping is very relaxing for the body and the mind. The suction of the cups creates a pleasant pressure sensation on your body— similar to a massage but instead of a massage therapist’s hands pushing down into your tissue, the cups gather your skin and pull it up. Cups can be stationary and stay over one spot to create a stronger pulling sensation, or they can be applied over massage oil so they can slide back and forth along the channels to create gentle movement. Your skin may turn red or develop hickey-type marks as the blood vessels respond to the suction.
Are there side effects?
There aren’t many serious side effects associated with cupping. The side effects you may experience will typically occur during your treatment or shortly after. Most of the time, people feel looser, more relaxed, and invigorated after a cupping session. However, if the cupping is too strong, or if your body doesn’t have the resources it needs to move stagnation, you may feel tired, achy or sore the next day, similar to how it feels to detox from a deep tissue massage. This is a temporary reaction generated by your immune system as it processes and releases the cellular waste released during cupping.
After cupping, your skin might have circular marks ranging in color from pink to deep red or purple, due to the suction. The most common side effect is what looks like hickeys or bruises on the skin. Less commonly, interstitial fluid or lymph may surface above the skin, forming small, painless water blisters. Cupping marks can last anywhere from a couple hours to a couple weeks, depending on how quickly your body is able to recover. If you plan to attend an event or photoshoot and do not want to risk having marks on your body, it is best to postpone your session.
When is cupping contraindicated?
Cupping therapy isn’t recommended for children under 4 years old, or for seniors with fragile skin. Don’t use cupping if you use blood-thinning medication. Also avoid cupping directly on areas where you have a sunburn, a rash, an open wound, a skin ulcer, or a fresh tattoo.
Tips for cupping aftercare
It is beneficial to drink water after your cupping session because as the cups manipulates your muscles, they excrete water and electrolytes, and toxins are released. Drinking water afterwards helps the body rehydrate the muscles and flush out waste materials that were released during the session.
Take it easy and avoid vigorous exercise immediately after the session. Walking, stretching, gentle yoga, or other gentle movements that align with your abilities and mobility are great options if you want to move after your session!⠀
Avoid drafts, sitting in front of fans or in windy places, or getting chilled, especially after a treatment. Cupping opens the pores and the channels, making the body vulnerable to attack from outside influence like wind and cold. From a Chinese medicine perspective, these environmental factors can trigger stiffness and pain and reduce the flow of energy and blood - so, steer clear and stay warm!
Avoid showering or swimming the rest of the day after your treatment. For the same reason that avoiding wind and cold is important, avoiding “dampness” from water and getting chilled from being wet is important!
If you have any soreness post-session or if your cupping marks are very dark, massaging arnica gel, cream, or oil or another pain-relieving cream into the area can help promote healing and reduce any discomfort. You can also use a heating pad or hot water bottle on the cupped areas to help promote circulation and relax the muscles.
Tell your practitioner if you've ever experienced discomfort after cupping, or tend to respond strongly to acupuncture, cupping, or bodywork. Treatments can easily be modified to be more gentle and still very effective. More intense is not always better - this is not a “no pain, no gain” situation! If you had uncomfortable symptoms after cupping once, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen again - especially with more conservative treatment and the right self-care.
Sources
History of Chinese Cupping. Chinesecupping.com. Published 2021. https://www.chinesecupping.com/history_of_chinese_cupping.html
Igor Micunovic. The Art of Cupping Therapy. Wall Street International. Published March 24, 2019. https://wsimag.com/science-and-technology/51588-the-art-of-cupping-therapy
Kim. Constellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts. Constellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts. Published January 14, 2019. https://www.constellationacu.com/blog/cupping-self-care
Ansorge R. Cupping Therapy. WebMD. Published August 28, 2012. https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/cupping-therapy
Why Do Massage Therapists Always Tell Me to Drink Water? - Health Topics, Integrative Health and Medicine - Hackensack Meridian Health. Hackensack Meridian Health. Published July 17, 2018. https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/HealthU/2018/07/17/why-do-massage-therapists-always-tell/